Just a perfect song. I listen to it and can’t believe it wasn’t a hit. When I bought the Moondance album I zeroed in on this song. I then heard Van Morrison on the Last Waltz singing it and it was a clincher.
The performance of this song on the Last Waltz for me may have been the best performance on the film and that is saying a lot. I’ve seen Van live one time and his voice seemed stronger in person than on record…if that is possible.
Van Morrison on Caravan
I could hear the radio like it was in the same room. I don’t know how to explain it. There was some story about an underground passage under the house I was living in, rumors from kids and stuff and I was beginning to think it was true. How can you hear someone’s radio from a mile away, as if it was playing in your own house? So I had to put that into the song, It was a must
Caravan
And the caravan is on it’s way
I can hear the merry gypsies play
Mama mama look at Emma Rose
She’s a-playin with the radio
La, la, la, la…
And the caravan has all my friends
It will stay with me until the end
Gypsy Robin, Sweet Emma Rose
Tell me everything I need to know
La, la, la…
Turn up your radio and let me hear the song
Switch on your electric light
Then we can get down to what is really wrong
I long to hold you tight so I can feel you
Sweet lady of the night I shall reveal you
Turn it up, turn it up, little bit higher radio
Turn it up, turn it up, so you know, radio
La, la, la, la…
And the caravan is painted red and white
That means ev’rybody’s staying overnight
Barefoot gypsy player round the campfire sing and play
And a woman tells us of her ways
La, la, la, la…
Turn up your radio and let me hear the song
Switch on your electric light
Then we can get down to what is really wrong
I long to hold you tight so I can feel you
Sweet lady of the night I shall reveal you
Turn it up, turn it up, little bit higher, radio
Turn it up, that’s enough, so you know it’s got soul
Radio, radio turn it up, hum
La, la, la, la…
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Van Morrison took a while to grow on me. Now I wonder why I was slow to get it.
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He is the kind of artist you have to listen to more than a few times. With the exception of his early hit Brown Eyed Girl…his later stuff starts growing on you.
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I had much the same response to Steely Dan. The life of a musical philistine.
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Great song and I agree with you- if i had to pick one performance from The Last Waltz- that is most memorable- Van singing Caravan.
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Don’t forget the high kicks!
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Always loved Van, his voice, his writing and diverse musicianship. Have seen him more than a handful of times and he’s an awful performer though (unlike in The Last Waltz). He grumbled through the songs and had no audience interaction. Oh well …
My fave albums are INTO THE MUSIC and A NIGHT IN SAN FRANCISO (a live album). Astral Weeks and Veedon Fleece are pretty amazing too.
Did you know he wrote “Brown Eyed Girl” for me? It’s a little unknown piece of trivia. You heard it here first! hehehe
eden
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I must have caught him on a great night…he didn’t communicate much but he was seemed happy…that was in 2006. He was playing at the Ryman Auditorium.
I never heard A Night In San Francisco but love the rest along with Saint Dominics Preview….
But of course he did!
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Love me some Van Morrison! Into the Mystic is my favorite, and then Moondance next….. Caravan comes in close!! Great post. Great music! 🙂
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I first saw the last waltz when in 14 or so, in the late 80s. I was a mad Van morrison fan at that time. Amazing track
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His voice is pure gold. His voice and phrasing is great!
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Just listening now: “Turn it up now!! Just one more time!!!!!”
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